53 pages • 1 hour read
Requiem for a Dream: A Novel
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Book Brief
279
Novel • Fiction
New York City • 1970s
1978
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Requiem for a Dream by Hubert Selby Jr. follows Harry Goldfarb, his mother Sara, his girlfriend Marion Kleinmeitz, and his best friend Tyrone C. Love as they struggle with drug addiction and its devastating consequences in Brooklyn. As they chase the American dream, their lives spiral out of control, showing the personal toll of addiction and its impact on their relationships and dreams. This book contains explicit depictions of drug use, addiction, mental illness, and various forms of violence.
Dark
Unnerving
Gritty
Melancholic
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
63,131 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Hubert Selby Jr.'s Requiem for a Dream is praised for its raw, unflinching portrayal of addiction and the human condition, with compelling, multi-faceted characters. The novel's intense, often distressing narrative is seen as both a strength and a drawback, challenging readers with its bleakness but lauded for its powerful impact.
Who Should Read Requiem for a Dream?
Readers who appreciated the raw intensity and bleak realism of works like Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh or the dark, introspective narratives in American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis will find Requiem for a Dream by Hubert Selby Jr. compelling. The novel's unflinching look at addiction and despair makes it suitable for those drawn to profound and gritty literature.
63,131 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Marion Kleinmeitz
Marion Kleinmeitz
An artistic and cultured young woman from a middle-class background who falls in love with Harry and dreams of opening a café and art space with him.
Tyrone C. Love
Tyrone C. Love
Harry's light-hearted best friend and partner in dealing heroin, whose connections in the New York heroin scene help drive their initial success before things take a downturn.
Sara Goldfarb
Sara Goldfarb
Harry's mother, a lonely widow who becomes addicted to diet pills after being invited to appear on a television program, signifying her desperate attempt to connect with the world.
279
Novel • Fiction
New York City • 1970s
1978
Adult
18+ years
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